Power-driven posthole digger



June 12, 1951 v G. H. HAlNEs 2,557,049 1 POWER DRIVEN POSTHOLE BIGGER Iva/E/vrok, GEORGE H HMA/Es, B Y mm Y d'ToRN/s x G. H. HAINES POWER DRIVEN PosTHoLE BIGGER` June 12, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1946 d-Tol? NE x June 12, 1951 G. H. HAlNEs POWER DRIVEN POSTI-[OLE DIGGER 5 sheets-sheet4 4 Filed May 5, 1946 IOS n, Bm 0 MH Ik 0 E G TTOI? NEX June 12, 1951 G. H. HMNES 2,557,049

v POWER DRIVEN POSTHOLE DIGGER Filed May 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 123 74'?. /47 sz 5v 43 '11 Zz as 5 a@ 3 /4z 40 a 2l 3 26 1. 3'6 129 40 lz7 u [Z7 l |36 /28 130 [4l 242, l38 /37 g [41l '39 /39 las /3 g 23174 153 [ai u 4; /34 I' w1 a 243 isz F-f l5 3 74 3s GEORGE NHA/Na 15o BVM 'Patented June 12, 1951 POWER-DRIVEN POSTHOLE BIGGER George Herbert Haines, Caledonia, Ohio, assignor to Turner of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application May 3, 1946, Serial No. 667,174

(Cl. Z55-19) i 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a power driven post hole digger and has for a primary object the high speed digging of holes with a positive lifting of the dirt from the hole and depositing of that dirt ina pile to one side of the hole.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the unique construction of the device permitting quick and easy alignment of holes and giving a high degree of durability, all at a relatively low cost of production. v

These and other advantages and objects of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description made in reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the structure embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a top plan view;

Fig. 3, a bottom plan view;

Fig. 4, an elevation of the reverse side from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a view in rear elevation;

Fig. 6, a detail on an enlarged scale in vertical `section of the lower end of the auger and tube;

Fig. 7, a detail in vertical elevation and section of the auger driving means;

Fig; S, a horizontal section on the line 88 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9, a horizontal section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10, a view in discharge side elevation of a slightly modified form;

Fig. 11, a view in side elevation of that modii'led form;

Fig. 12, a view in rear elevation of that form;

Fig.. 13, a vdetail in section on the line ifii3 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14, a view in side elevation of a still further modified form;

Fig. 15, a view in rear elevation of the form shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16, a top plan View; Fig; 17, a detail in section on the line ll--l'l in Fig. 14; and

Fig. 18, a detail in vertical section on the line lli-i3 in Fig. 14.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

First referring to that form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1-8, a cylindrical tube 20 is mounted to slide vertically between a pair of guide rails 2l and 22 on one side and a pair of like guide rails 29 and 24 on the other side. The diameter of this tube is selected to be substantially equal to the diameter of the hole to be dug. Also, the length of the tube 20 is made to exceed the depth of the hole to be dug.

rEhe pairs of rails 2i, 22 and 23, 24 arefixed between a lower mounting frame and a top frame 29. The tube 20 is provided with a lug 2l to slide between the rails 2i and 22, and is also provided with-a like lug 28 to slide between the rails 23 and 24. The upper end of the tube 20 is provided with a lateral extension 29, from the outer end of which extends a spout 30.

On the back side of the tube 29 at the top end thereof are a pair of upwardly extending brackets 3l and 32, fixed in position on the tube 29 and carrying across their top ends a plate 33 fixed thereto. A shaft 34 is rotatably supported by this plate 33 to hang vertically therefrom and to extend downwardly centrally into the tube 28. About this shaft 34 is a conveyor member in the nature of an auger 35 which extends downwardly to the lower end of the tube 29 to carry a cutting edge 35 slightly therebelow, Fig. 6.

lOn the upper end portion of the shaft 34 is fixed a sprocket 3l, Fig. 8. A chain 38 engages around the sprocket 3l to extend horizontally therefrom and around a sprocket 39 through which a drive shaft 40 extends. The two shafts are maintained in xed spacing apart one from the other by means of the plate 33 and also a top plate fil fixed to the plate 33 by any suitable means, such as by the bolts 42 and 43 interengaging those plates through spacers 44 and 45. The shaft 49 may have any suitable driving oonnection desired between it and the sprocket 39 which will permit the sprocket 39 to slide longitudinally along the shaft 49 and be driven by the shaft 49 at any position therealong. In the present form, Fig. '7, the shaft 4t is made to be square in cross section to fit slidingly through a square hole in the sprocket 39, The sprocket 39 is provided with upper and lower bosses 46 and 41 respectively to extend into or through the plates 39 and di as a means of maintaining the sprocket 39 in a fixed spacing from the sprocket 3l, the shaft 34 being rotatably carried through the plates 93 and 4|.

The shaft 49 extends upwardly through the top frame 2li to have a bevel gear 43 fixed to its top end and in constant mesh with gears 49 and 5@ fixed respectively to the horizontal shafts 5l and 52 carried across the frame 26, one shaft in alignment with the other. The shaft 4B extends downwardly to a gear housing 53 through which the shaft 4t is driven in the present showing by a horizontally disposed shaft 54 that may be connected with any suitable source of power. Thus, the shafts 5l and 52 are driven, one in the opposite direction from the other by the shaft itil. This shaft 49 also in turn drives through the chain 38 the auger shaft 34. By reason of the mounting of the sprocket 39 to slide along the shaft 49, the tube 20 may be raised and' lowered to have the auger shaft 34 driven at' any shifted position of the tube 20.

Mounted across the lower frame 25 are shafts 55 and 56 to have the Itube 29 extend downwardly therebetween. Fixed respectively to these shafts 55 and 5E are spur gears 51 and 58. These spur gears 5l and 58 are in constant mesh with rack gears 59 and Si) that are riXed to the sides of the tube 2D. In the form herein shown, these rack gears 59 and 56 consist essentially of perforated bars with circular holes 'I0 therethrough to receive the teeth therein of the gears 51 and 58. Preferably the wall of the tube 28 is perforated to match the holes 'IIJ of the bars 59 and 60 so that dirt may pass on through those holes and not become compacted therein under pres sure of the teeth of the gears 5'! and 58. Also, by having the holes 'i0 in alignment with matching holes 'Il in the tube 2l), peep holes are provided to observe whether or not dirt is being elevated within the tube 23.. As indicated in the drawings, the bars 59 and 6B are located substantially 90 around the tube 2l) from the lugs 21 and 28. rIhese lugs, of course, prevent turning of the tube 2c circumferentially.

On one side of the :trarne 25, the shafts 55 and 55 extend thererom to have xed thereon the internieshing gears 'l2 and '13. The upper frame 2S is supported in fixed position spaced from the lower frame 25 by any suitable framework. herein shown as consisting essentially of the pairs of guide rails 2 I, 22 and 23, 2d and also a pair ci rearwardly spaced posts I4 and 'I5 with suitable transverse cross braces 'I6 therebetween.

A transverse shaft il' is carried above the shaft .i

et 8i fixed on a shaft 82 that is mounted across the rear sides of the posts M and l5.

On the ends of this shaft 32 are iiXed belt pulleys 83 and Sd. A belt 85 is carried around the pulley 83 and extends upwardly tobe carn ried around. a pulley 85 that is iixed to the sha-it 5I. The belt is mounted to have considerable slack so that normal turning of the shaft 5I does not drive the shaft 82. In the sarne manner a belt 8T is carried around the pulley 85 and upwardly and around a pulley 83 that is nxed on the shaft 52.

Hinged to the post '55 is a swingable arm 5S. A pulley 853 is mounted on this arm il@ to boar against the rear upper Jdight or the belt 85 so that by pushing the pulley @il thereagainst, the slack l will be taken out of the belt 85 and from the shaft 5l, the belt 85 will be driven to turn the shaft accordingly but without driving the belt 8l which is in a slack condition. The arm may be swung from any suitable control, such as by means of a link Si pivotally interconnecting the arln 35% with an operating lever 92. To drive the shaft 32 in an opposite direction, the pulley Si? is swung away from the belt 85 and an arm S3, herein shown as pivoted to the post lll, is swung rearwardly to have a pulley -l carried on the arzn Q3 push against the forward i ht of the belt 8l and thereby take up the slack in that belt to cause the shaft 82 to be turned` in the direction of rotation of the shaft 52. I'fhis arm E3 may be controlled through a 59d connected with the lever 92, whereby swinging the lever 92 to the left, Fig. l, will push the pulley d@ into its belt engagement and carry the pulley ed away from the other belt. Reverse travel of the lever S2 will, of course, reverse the travel of the pulleys 9G and S4. The tube 2li and the auger therein is lowered or raised by travelling of this shaft 82. To prevent unwarranted lowering of the tube 2i), such as in moving from one location to 4 another, the shaft 82 is provided with a brake pulley S5, around which is wrapped a flexicle beltl 96 to have one end nxed to a cross membe 9i between the posts 'M- and l5, and the other end to a lever 98, by means of which the belt QS may be pulled tightly around the pulley 95.

As indicated in Fig. 6, a second cutting edge {S9-180 from the cutting edge 3S may be employed. From the edge Si) a short section 19E) of a conveyor flight is carried upwardly around the shaft 34. The lower end of the shaft 34 may be extended to any desired length below the cutting edges 36 and 99 to serve as a pilot, a short length being shown in the drawings. The lower f' frame 25 may be mounted upon any suitable vehicle (not shown) and stabilizing braces I'lI and |92v be employed to extend rearwardly fromY the posts I4 and 'F5 so as to maintain the entire apparatus in its vertical position.

In operation, the shaft 5 4 is driven and the bolts 8.5 and 8'! areA normally loose so that until either pulley 9g or 94 may be shifted to tighten the respective belts, the tube 2Q and. its contained auger will remain in the normal upper position as indicated in the drawings. However, the auger 35 is turning at all times when the. shaftA 54 is turning. This. operation, of course. is controlled at the power source. When the spot is located where the hole is to be dug, the tube 2Q is lowered by selective use ofthe lever 92 and the auger 35 is allowed to start entering the earth. Dirt loosened will be carried up. the auger to the lateral extension 29 at the top end. An, exit is provided to guide the dirt into the spout 3!) from which the dirt may fall in one direction onto a` pile. at one side of theV hole, being dug, the tube 2li, of course,y may be allowed to drop by gravity or even forced downwardlyy so that the wall of the hole is maintained. The lower cutting edges 36 and t Se extend outwardly a sufficient distance to out a hole suciently largeV to permit the tube 2liA to slide downwardly therein. By reason o the employment of the tube 2S, all of the dirt loosened at the cutting edges is carried upwardly within the tube so. that there is a positive elevation of the dirt rather than a simple screwing of the auger down into the soil as in the nature of a wood screw entering wood without removing or lifting the dirt.

Referring to` Figs. 11-13, a slightly modified form or elevating and lowering mechanism is shown. In this torni, there is a single Shaftv ID3 carried by the lower frame 25,. baci; of' the tube 20. The tube 2Q in this instance is, guided, between the front cross member |04 of the france 25 and a transverse bar m5. Qn each of the ends of the shaft Il are xedz respectively the sprockets I and III'I to carry there around the respective chains` |88 and IOS which in turn are .i carried around sprockets IIB and1 Il'i` xed on the outer ends of a transverse shaft II2 mounted across4 the top. frame` 26. One flight o eachv of the chains H38- and IGS i5 so positioned as to be parallel to the respective pairs of guide bars 2|, 22 and 23, 24,. A bracket IIS is fixed to one of the sidel plates of the chain IDB and H39 in each instance and secured to the respective slide members 2l and 28, whereby travel of the two chains will cause a corresponding travel of the tube 20. This attaching mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 13.

On the outer end of the shaft IU3 outside of the sprocket IGS is fixed a sprocket IIe to be driven by a chain H5 from, a Sprocket II' fixed u on the outer end of the shaft 82. Thus, the turning of the shaft 82 as above described will lower or raise the tube depending upon the direction of travel of the shaft 82.

Referring to Figs. 14-18, a still further modified form of the driving mechanism is illustrated. In this form, the primary purpose is to eliminate as far as possible gears and sprockets from the lower end of the apparatus and conne such members to the upper portion, to the end that such members will be removed from accidental dropping thereon of dirt as may be dropped from the spout 3U or as may be carried up with the tube 20 as it is withdrawn from the hole.

In this last form, the tube 28 is Shown as being partially lowered. On each side of the tube are mounted respectively chains ||1 and H8 to be carried around lower sprockets ||9 and |20 and upper sprockets I2 and |22 xed on a cross shaft |23 carried on the top frame 25. The rear flight of each of the chains has a link in each instance xed to the slide members 21 and 28 whereby travel of the chains will lift and lower the tube 2|). As illustrated in Fig. 17, the chain is attached to the slide 28, for example, by means of a bolt |24 passed through the chain ||1 to engage an angle bracket |25 that is in turn bolted to the slide member 23. As indicated in Fig. 18, the lower chain sprockets, for example, sprocket IIS is adjustably mounted on a bracket |26 which is secured to the lower frame 25.

The upper shaft |23 is driven by means of a chain |21 by a sprocket |28 fixed on the shaft |29 that is mounted across the posts 14 and 15 below the top frame 26. The shaft |29 in turn is driven by a chain |30 driving the sprocket |3| on the shaft |23 from a sprocket |32 fixed on the transverse shaft 33. The shaft |33 has the belt pulleys |34 and |35 respectively fixed to its outer ends. Normally, slack belts |36 and |31 are carried upwardly from the pulleys |34 and |35 to engage around the pulleys 88 and 86 fixed respectively to the outer ends of the shafts 52 and 5|. The two shafts 5| and 52 are driven in opposite directions by means of the shaft 4|), as above described, through the bevel gears 48 on the shaft 4Q and 49 and 58 respectively on the shafts 5| and 52. In this form it is to be noted that the belts 36 and |31 are quite short in comparison to the belts 85 and 81 shown in Figs. 1-10.

In order to remove the slack from the respective belts |36 and |31, to permit selective driving therethrough, a rocker shaft |38 is mounted above the shaft |33. On this shaft |38 are mounted two arms |39 and |48, each carrying toward its outer end a belt engaging pulley |4| and |42 respectively. As indicated in the drawings, Figsv 14-16, these arms |38 and |45 are angularly displaced one from the other about the shaft |38 to have the pulley 4| on the forwardside of the front flight of the belt |33, andthe pulley |42 on the rear side of the rear flight of the belt |31. Thus, by suitably rocking the shaft |38, either pulley may be selectively carried against its respective belt. The rocking ofthe shaft |38 may be produced in any suitable manner, herein shown as through a lever 242 xedto the shaft |38,

from which lever 242 extends a link 243 down-y wardly to connect with the upper arm of a bell crank |44 rockably mounted on the post 14. From vthe lower arm of the crank |44 extends a link |45 yto a lever |46 suitably mounted and located. By

pushing the lever |41:l to the left, Fig. 14, the pulley |4| is carried against the belt |35. Pulling the lever |46 to the right removes the pulley |4| 6 from the belt |46 and carries the pulley |42 against the other belt |31.

It is desirable that there be upper and lower limit stops to control the travel of the tube 28. In the absence of such means, the upper mechanisrn carrying the chain 38 might be jammed against the frame 25, or other parts which may project into its path. The same thing is true at the lower limit of travel. Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, one such limiting means is illustrated wherein an arm |15 is carried forwardly from the bell crank |44 and then bent transversely to be in the path of the underside of the plate 33 as the tube 28 may be lowered. Also, there is an arm |16 xed to the cross shaft |38 to be in the path of the plate 4| when the tube 20 is elevated to a sufficient height. As the tube 2|! may be raised toward its upper limit, the plate 4| will strike the arm |16 to carry it upwardly and thereby rock the pulley |42 awayfrom the belt |31 and carry the pulley |4| toward the belt |36, but not into that position where the belt |35 will start driving the shaft |33. In other words, the arm |13 will rock the shaft |38 suiliciently to have both belts |35 and |31 free from driving conditions. When the tube 20 is lowered to the desired depth of hole, the plate 33 will strike the arm 15 to again rock the shaft |38 through the bell crank |44, the link 243 and the arm 242, to again place the pulleys |4| and |42 in positions to leave the belts |36 and |31 free. O-f course, the spacing between the arms |15 and |16 may be varied in accordance with the amount of travel desired of the tube 2U. The direction of travel of the shaft 54 will be made to be such that the arms |15 and |15 shift the pulleys |4| and |42 in the right direction corresponding to release of the belts respectively for down and up travel of the tube 23.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the forms now best known to me, it is obvious that other mechanical variations may krbe employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the precise forms as described beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a post hole digger comprising a tube substantially of the same diameter as that of the hole to be dug, an auger revolubly mounted in the tube and fixed against longitudinal displacement therealong, and power driven means for j revolving said auger throughout the range of up and down travel of the tube; power operated means for lowering and raising said tube, said power operated means comprising a pair of shafts, a driving shaft interconnecting with said pair of shafts to drive them in opposite directions, a driving connection between each of said pair of .shafts and said tube, and friction means in each of said driving connections for selective operation, a jack shaft intermediate said tube and said driving connections, said connections consisting each of a normally slack belt wrapped around pulleys fixed to said jack shaft and a pulley each on said pair of shafts, drive means between said tube and said jack shaft, and means selectively tightening said belts.

2. In a post hole digger comprising a tube substantially of the same diameter as that of the hole to be dug, an auger revolubly mounted in the `tube and fixed against longitudinal displacement therealong, and power driven means for revolving said auger throughout the range of up and d'own travel of' the tube; powerv operated means for lowering and raising said tube, said power operated means comprising a pair of shafts, a driving shaft interconnecting with said pair of shafts to drive them in opposite directions, a driving connection between each of said pair of shafts and said tube, and friction means in each of said driving connections for selective operation, a jack shaft intermediate said tube and said. driving connections, said connections consisting each of a normally slack belt wrapped around pulleys fixed to said jack shaft and a pulley each on said pair of shafts, drive means between said tube and said jack shaft, and means selectively tightening said belts, said drive means between said jack shaft and said tube comprising an endless chain mounted along one side of the tube. means attaching said chain at a localized ZoneJ to said tube, and drive means between said chain and said jack shaft.

' 3. In a post hole digger comprising a tube substantially of the same diameter as that of the hole to be dug, an auger revolubly mounted in the tube and fixed against longitudinal displacenient therealong, and power driven means for revolving said auger throughout the range of up and down travel of the tube; a tube carrying structure comprising a top and bottom frame held in fixed spaced relation by intermediate connecting members, said connecting members serving as tube guides to hold the tube against rotation and to direct it through said lower frame; a drive shaft revolubly carried by said structure in substantial parallel alignment with the axis of said tube and held against longi tudinal shifting; a pair of shafts revolubly carried across said structure; gear means interconnecting the pair of shafts with said drive shaft to cause the shafts in said pair to be driven onev oppositely from the other; a revoluble member in said frame at the side of said tube engaging therewith for up and down shifting thereof; drive members norm-ally inoperatively interconnecting between said shafts in said pair and said revoluble, tube shifting member; and means selectively placing said interconnecting drive members in operative condition,

4. In a power driven post hole digger having a revoluble auger inside a tube, comprising a vertically disposed frame, vertically guiding and holding said tube against circumferential travel; a power input connection at a lower part of said frame; a vertically disposed revoluble shaft removed from said tube and fixed against longitudinal travel, driven from said connection and extending throughout a distance of possible vertical tube travel; said auger having an upper end driving portion at the top portion of said tube; a head frame carried by said tube top portion, extending laterally therefrom to receive shiftably therethrough said vertical shaft; a drive system carried by said head frame interconnecting said vertical shaft and said auger driving portion; a gear on the upper end portion of said shaft; a tube elevator shaft carried by said vertical frame extending laterally from the vertical shaft; a second tube elevator shaft carried by said vertical frame to extend in opposite direction to the first tube shaft from the vertical shaft; a gear on each of said tube shafts constantly meshed with said vertical shaft gear; a jack shaft carried by said vertical fram-e; a chain carried by said Vertical frame and connected to said tube to raise and lower said tube; means interconnecting said chain with said jack shaft whereby selectiveturning of the jackshaft will raise and lower the tube; a pulleyshaft carried by said vertical frame; a belt normally slack,Y ex4 tending between each ofv said tube elevator shafts and said pulley shaft; driving means between said jaclsshaft and said pulley shaft; and means selectively tightening either of said belts into driving condition, whereby said jackshaft and hence said chain may be driven up or down.

5. In a post hole digger having a frame, a tube vertically reciprocable within said frame, an auger rotatable within and reciprocable'with. said tube and a drive train to said auger; means for actuating said tube comprisinga pair of driving connections from-- said drive train to said tube and each including a drive member engagingV the tube, each said driving connection being adapted for being made eifective to drive the tube in a different of its up and down directions, a slack belt in each said connection, a guide pulley for tightening' each belt, and arm means pivotally mounted on said frame and carrying said pulleys and having two operative positions wherein said pulleys are alternately effective for tightening their associated belts and having a thirdy position wherein both of said pulleys are in their belt slack position.

6. 1n a post hole digger having a frame, a tube vertically reciprocablewithin said frame, an auger rotatable within and reciprocable with said tube and a drive train to said auger; meansV for actuating said tube comprising a pair of driving connections from sa-id drive train to said tube and'v cach including a drive member engaging the tube, each said driving connection being adapted for being' made effective to drive the tube in a different of its up and down directions, a slack belt in each said connection, a guide pulley for tightening each belt, arm. means pivotally mounted on said frame and carrying said pulleys and havingv two operative positions wherein said pulleys are: alternately effective for tightening their associated belts and having a third position wherein both of said pulleys are in their belt sla-cls position, and a single manually operable control member connected with said arm means for shifting the arm means into the several described positions.

7. In a post hole digger having a frame, an auger tube guided for vertical reciprocation in said frame, an auger rotatable in and reciprocable with said tube and a drive train to said auger; vertically extending endless chains on opposite sides of said tube and sprockets in said frame supporting said chains, each of said chains being connected with saidV tube at one point, a pair of driving connections from said drive train to said chains and each operable for driving the chains in a different direction, and control means movable to make said driving connections selectively effective or both ineffective.

` GEORGE HERBERT HAINES.

REFERENCESv CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,191,992 Peters July 25, 191,6 1,319,259 Adams n Oct. 21, 1919 1,371,884 Focks Mar. 15, 1921 1,375,640 Moore Apr. 19, 1921 1,409,394 Moore Mar, 14, 1922 1,882,350 Weiss Oct. 11, 1932 

